The Edmonton Oilers have a specific goal for the off-season, and a new name has come up related to it.
David Pagnotta mentioned this week that Edmonton wants to find a fast winger this summer. One player people are talking about is Owen Tippett, who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers.
It makes sense when you look at his attributes. Tippett is 6-foot-2 and has excellent speed, can score well, and has the kind of quickness that Connor McDavid thrives on during fast breaks.
At 27 years old, he ended the regular season with 51 points in 81 games for the Flyers. He scored 28 goals, made 23 assists, and had two goals that won games. His salary cap hit is $6.2 million.
His performance in the playoffs was brief. He played six games, scored two points, and had a plus-2 rating. Philadelphia ended its playoff run early, which means every experienced player on Daniel Briere’s team may be available for trade.
McDavid and Leon Draisaitl need players who can keep up with them. Tippett offers that speed in a way that most free agents do not. His contract is also fair for a top-line winger who has a good chance of scoring goals.
Daniel Briere’s team has been openly trying to reshape their strategy. Philadelphia placed 11th overall with a record of 43-27-12 and got eliminated in the first round. Briere has stated that they are moving towards building a younger and faster team.
GM Stan Bowman has been making changes this off-season. He revamped the front office by promoting Michael Parkatti to Vice President of Analytics and Technology and hiring Kirt Hill as Assistant GM for Player Procurement. The work related to hockey operations is done, and now they need to focus on the roster.
Why Tippett is the answer to Edmonton’s biggest need for their top players
Edmonton had a record of 41-30-11, finishing with 93 points, which placed them 14th overall and 2nd in their division. The team got eliminated in the first round by Anaheim. Their offense struggled when it mattered the most.
That choice makes Tippett easier to get than he was last year. The Flyers also have Matvei Michkov coming up as a strong option for the top two lines at a low salary of $950,000. The roster is changing quickly.
What does Edmonton need to give up to make a trade happen? They will likely need to part with a first-round draft pick and a younger player from their team. There is also a chance they might need to give up a prospect that Briere is interested in. The price will probably be in that area.
To be honest, it seems likely that the Oilers will go after at least one big deal this offseason. They are still looking for a new head coach.
There are still some uncertainties in goal. Adding a fast winger for the top two lines would help secure a key spot.
Maxim Berezkin is reportedly planning to stay in the KHL for another two years, which removes one option from Edmonton’s lineup this week. This makes it even more important for them to bring in new players.
McDavid’s chance to win doesn’t wait for small improvements. The Oilers need to make significant changes. Tippett’s name is the kind of talk that could turn into a trade by July if both teams keep discussing it.
The real trading season starts after the Stanley Cup Final. Bowman’s summer is just beginning.
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